2024 in Papua New Guinea

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Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2024 Timeline of Papua New Guinean history

Events in the year 2024 in Papua New Guinea .

Incumbents

• Monarch – Charles III

Federal government

• Governor-General – Bob Dadae
• Prime Minister – James Marape

Provincial Governors

• Central: Robert Agarobe
• Chimbu: Micheal Dua Bogai
• East New Britain: Michael Marum
• East Sepik: Allan Bird
• Enga: Peter Ipatas
• Gulf: Chris Haiveta
• Hela: Philip Undialu
• Jiwaka: William Tongamp
• Madang: Peter Yama
• Manus: Charlie Benjamin
• Milne Bay: Sir John Luke Crittin, KBE
• Morobe: Ginson Saonu
• New Ireland: Julius Chan
• Oro: Gary Juffa
• Sandaun: Tony Wouwou
• Southern Highlands: William Powl
• West New Britain: Sasindran Muthuvel
• Western: Taboi Awe Yoto
• Western Highlands: Wai Rapa

Events

January

• 10 January – Riots break out in Port Moresby and other cities nationwide following an announcement by prime minister James Marape of a tax deduction which is subsequently retracted. ^[1] At least 22 people are killed ^[2] and 41 others are injured. ^[3]

February

• 18 February – At least 64 people are killed in an ambush during intertribal clashes in Wabag, Enga Province. ^[4]

March

• 18-22 March – Torrential rain and king tides cause floods and landslides nationwide, killing 23 people. ^[5]
• 24 March–2 April – The Papua New Guinea women's cricket team tour Zimbabwe for 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is; Zimbabwe win the ODI series 3–0 and the T20I series 2–1, with PNG winning the second T20I Super Over. ^[6]
• 24 March – Three people are killed and 1,000 houses are destroyed following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in East Sepik Province. ^[7]

April

• 15 April – A magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes West New Britain Province. No damage or casualties are reported. ^[8]

May

• 24 May – A landslide hits the village of Kaokalam in Enga Province with a disputed death toll ranging from 160 to 2,000. ^{[9] [10]}

July

• 6 July – Petroleum Minister Jimmy Maladina is charged by Australian police with assault relating to a domestic dispute that occurred in Sydney. ^[11] He subsequently resigns from the cabinet and is replaced on 10 July by Energy Minister Thomas Opa. ^[12]
• 16–18 July – At least 26 people are killed in attacks by an armed gang on several villages in Angoram District, East Sepik Province. ^[13]

August

• 8 August –Prime Minister Marape launches the rebranded Papua New Guinea Investment Week, expanding focus beyond resources to multiple sectors. ^[14]

September

• 6–9 September – Pope Francis conducts the first papal visit to Papua New Guinea since 1995. ^[15]
• 12 September – Prime Minister Marape survives a vote of no confidence in the National Parliament. ^[16]
• 17 September – At least 35 people are killed in intertribal clashes near the Porgera Gold Mine in Enga Province. ^[17]

October

• 31 October – The government announces that it would boycott the upcoming 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan in November, calling it a "waste of time" amid criticism over unfulfilled pledges on climate change. ^[18]

December

• 11 December – Prime Minister Marape backs Bougainville funding 50% of its budget and reopening the Panguna mine, with a $36 billion projected revenue. ^[19]
• 12 December – Papua New Guinea receives a licence to have a local team play in the Australian National Rugby League beginning in 2028, as part of efforts to strengthen ties and counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. ^{[20] [21]}
• 22 December – A Britten-Norman BN-2B-26 Islander operated by North Coast Aviation crashes in Sapmanga Valley in Morobe Province, killing five people on board. ^[22]

Scheduled events

• 2024 Papua New Guinea Hunters season

Holidays

Further information: Public holidays in Papua New Guinea

Source: ^[23]

• 1 January – New Year's Day
• 26 February – Remembrance Day of the Late First Prime Minister
• 29 March – Good Friday
• 30 March – Easter Saturday
• 1 April – Easter Monday
• 10 June – King's Birthday
• 26 August – Repentance Day
• 16 September – Independence Day
• 25 December – Christmas Day
• 26 December – Boxing Day

Deaths

• 6 February – Jimmy Uguro, politician, MP (since 2017) ^[24]
• 4 April – Kaia Arua, 33, cricketer (national team) ^[25]

References

1. "Chaos in the streets of Port Moresby after 'technical glitch' hits public servants' pay". ABC News. 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
2. "Death toll in PNG riots jumps to 22 after gruesome discovery of bodies in burnt out shops". ABC Australia. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
3. "Troops restore order after riots in Papua New Guinea". RTL. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
4. "Papua New Guinea ambush: More than 60 shot dead in Highlands region". BBC. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
5. "Papua New Guinea floods, landslides leave at least 23 dead". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
6. "Lewas gearing up for ODI tour in Zimbabwe". The National. 2025-08-08. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
7. "Three people reported dead, 1,000 homes destroyed after earthquake hits PNG's East Sepik province". ABC. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
8. "Strong earthquake rattles Papua New Guinea, but there is no tsunami alert or reports of damage". ABC News . Retrieved 2024-04-15.
9. Dziedzic, Stephen (2024-05-31). "'The earth is moving': PNG PM explains why he can't send excavators to site of landslide disaster". ABC News. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
10. "More than 2,000 people buried in Papua New Guinea landslide". France 24 . 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
11. Armstrong, Kathy (7 July 2024). "PNG minister charged with assault in Australia". BBC. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
12. "Papua New Guinea lawmaker pleads not guilty in Sydney court to assaulting woman". Associated Press. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
13. Drury, Flora (25 July 2024). "Gang kills women and children in Papua New Guinea massacre - reports". BBC. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
14. admin (2024-08-09). "Prime Minister Marape launches 2024 Papua New Guinea Investment Week". PM JAMES MARAPE News Page. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
15. "Pope Francis lands in Papua New Guinea". France 24. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
16. "James Marape remains PM after no confidence vote against him fails". RNZ . 2024-09-12. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
17. "Days of tribal violence in Papua New Guinea leave more than 35 people dead, police say". Associated Press. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
18. "Papua New Guinea to boycott 'waste of time' UN climate summit". France 24. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
19. Needham, Kirsty (2024-12-11). "Pacific island Bougainville's independence path relies on economy, says PNG's Marape". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
20. "Papua New Guinea is granted a National Rugby League team starting in 2028". Associated Press. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
21. Fildes, Nic (12 December 2024). "Australia uses 'rugby diplomacy' to counter China influence in Indo-Pacific". www.ft.com. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
22. "No survivors from PNG small plane crash". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 25 December 2024.
23. "Papua New Guinea Public Holidays 2024". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
24. "Another Member of PNG Parliament Dies". Papua New Guinea Today (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2024-04-04.
25. "Papua New Guinea all-rounder Kaia Arua dies, aged 33". ICC. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-04.

External links

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• 2020s portal
• Current events portal
• Oceania portal